Gritty comeback vs. Lakers snaps skid, but Harden exits early

Harden returns, leads win over Spurs as No. 1 lead grows: James Harden returned from a one-game injury with 28 points, 6 points, and 6 assists on Monday as the Rockets dominated a Texas rival for a second consecutive night, defeating the Spurs 109-93 at Toyota Center. With the win, Houston (53-14) extends its lead for the top spot in the Western Conference to two games (plus the tiebreaker) over Golden State (51-16). Chris Paul (18 points, 9 assists, 8-of-11 FG in 23 minutes) was by far the most efficient player on the Rockets, who shot an uncharacteristic 13-of-44 (29.5%) from behind the three-point arc after playing five games in the past seven nights. But the tired legs on perimeter shots ultimately didn't matter, since the Rockets dominated San Antonio on the inside with a 46-24 advantage in points in the paint and a 50-36 edge in rebounding. Our postgame show explores those themes and much more, including the potential for a Rockets vs. Spurs matchup in the first round of the play by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

31 min listen

Playoff test: Thunder show urgency in snapping Houston's home streak: James Harden led the way with 26 points and 9 assists, but the Rockets (64-16) still fell in Saturday's home finale to a desperate Oklahoma City Thunder (46-34) side led by 24 points from Paul George and Russell Westbrook. The loss snapped Houston's home-court winning streak at 20 games. Our postgame recap explores all the key takeaways, including the highlights (Harden, Paul, Tucker, Capela) and lowlights (Ariza, Nene) of those who played, the roles of absences from Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, and who Houston's likely first-round opponent is with only four days left in the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

30 min listen

Ryan Anderson's defensive limitations on display as early deficit proves too much: Led by 38 points and 8 assists from Chris Paul, the Rockets (34-13) put up a valiant comeback after going down 21 midway through the second half at New Orleans (27-21). But ultimately, the early deficit proved a bit too large to overcome as Houston's rally came up just short in a 115-113 loss on Friday night. In our postgame recap, we explore the defensive struggles that put Houston in such a big hole, starting with the role of Ryan Anderson (0 points in 14 minutes, -20 in plus/minus) and why his continued slump over the past 24 games may be putting his long-term role into question. Other topics include encouraging signs from Paul and Eric Gordon (27 points, 10-of-15 shooting) in the comeback, as well as thoughts on the season-ending Achilles injury to the Pelicans' DeMarcus Cousins (15 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists) and its potential implications for Houston's playoff matchups down the road. Learn mor by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

45 min listen

Rockets secure season series from Warriors as Paul, Harden set tone: Chris Paul scored a game-high 33 points on 50% shooting, while James Harden had two MVP moments in the final 80 seconds as the Rockets (32-12) completed a stirring fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the defending champion Golden State Warriors, 116-108. The victory clinches the season series and potential tiebreaker for Houston with two wins in three games between the two teams. The Rockets have now won seven of their past 10 games coming off the five-game losing streak in late December. Our postgame show examines all the key angles, headlined by the importance of the Rockets' impressive resiliency and why their confidence against the Warriors could pay dividends in May and June. Other angles discussed include how both star Paul and Harden (22 points, 8 assists)were at their best against elite competition, even with the latter only 20 days removed from a Grade 2 hamstring strain; the importance of veteran role players by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

31 min listen

Sweet Sixteen: CP3 shoots Houston to NBA's longest streak: Chris Paul led the way with 25 points (5-of-6 on three-pointers) as the Rockets (50-13) won their 16th consecutive game with an impressive 122-112 road victory at Oklahoma City (37-29). Houston is now tied with Boston for the NBA's longest winning streak this season and remains ahead of the Warriors (49-14) in the race for the West's No. 1 seed. James Harden was somewhat efficient with 23 points (8-of-13 FG) and 11 assists (but 10 turnovers), while Clint Capela and Nene combined for 18 points and 8 rebounds on 7-of-11 shooting vs. Steven Adams on the interior. Our postgame show examines all the key storylines from Tuesday night, including how the Rockets made an important statement in knocking off the star-studded Thunder (led by Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony) and avenged a Christmas loss in the same building when Paul didn't play. The final segment of the show examines the intense battle for home-court ad by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

30 min listen

Locked in: Paul, Gordon pace offense as D suffocates Dallas: Even without MVP frontrunner James Harden, the Rockets (52-14) bounced back from Friday's close loss at Toronto with an emphatic 105-82 victory over the rival Mavs in Dallas. Coupled with a loss by Golden State (51-16) earlier in the day to Minnesota, Houston suddenly finds itself with a two-game advantage in the loss column plus the tiebreaker in the race for the West's No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. Chris Paul (24 points, 50% FG, 12 assists, +31) made up for a sluggish night from the field in Toronto, while Eric Gordon replaced Harden in the starting lineup and performed admirably with 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Meanwhile, Houston put the clamps down on the Mavs defensively in the second half to take full control — surrendering just 82 points. Our postgame show explores those items and more, including thoughts on the status of Harden's sore left knee and the importance of Houston buildi by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

One win away: On a gritty Game 5 victory, and CP3 medical thoughts: Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 24 points while Chris Paul scored 18 of his 20 in the second half, leading the Rockets to a 98-94 home win over the defending champion Warriors in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals and a 3-2 lead in the series. Houston has an opportunity to close out the series in Saturday night's Game 6 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Thursday's postgame show explores how the Rockets got it done despite an off-night for James Harden (19 points, but 0-of-11 from three-point range); the role of Clint Capela (12/14, 2 blocks) in keeping Houston close; and initial thoughts on the late hamstring injury to Paul and what it could mean for Game 6 and a potential Game 7. Tune in! #Rockets #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #Warriors #WCF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Rockets post first dominant win in weeks with beatdown in Orlando: The Rockets (27-9) won their first game of James Harden's absence and second consecutive overall with a dominant 116-96 victory Wednesday in Orlando. Our postgame Locked on Rockets recap examines all the key angles, including Chris Paul's excellence as a floor general (13 assists and a plus/minus of +23 in 32 minutes), a bounce-back performance from Clint Capela (21 points, 8 rebounds, +26 in 23 minutes) in his second game back from injury, and another hot night from Gerald Green behind the arc (27 points, 7-of-10 on threes). The show also touches on the professionalism displayed by Houston in taking care of business early and saving minutes to key players for the second half of the back-to-back on Thursday vs. Golden State. #Rockets #NBA #Magic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

31 min listen

Harden's brilliance not enough as Lakers snap winning streak at 14: The winning streak is over at 14 games for the Rockets (25-5), who lost for the first time since November 14 in Wednesday's 123-116 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. James Harden (51 points, 15-of-27 FG, 9 assists) looked as explosive as he's been in some time, but Houston couldn't overcome an early 48-26 deficit and injuries to Clint Capela (heel, DNP) and Chris Paul, who departed early with a left adductor strain. Paul was just 2-of-7 for 8 points and a plus/minus differential of -16 in 25 minutes, and he looked noticeably less explosive than in previous games. Though it was not a knee injury, that's the same left leg that caused Paul to miss 14 games earlier this season with a bruised knee. Meanwhile, Ryan Anderson scored just two points on 1-of-5 shooting in 25 minutes, and Houston was -22 in plus/minus differential with Anderson on the court. It's the third consecutive poor outing from Anderson, and by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

32 min listen

Harden leads weekend road sweep as No. 1 seed nears: James Harden (34/12) and Chris Paul (18/9/8) combined for 52 points and 21 assists on 50% shooting on Sunday as Houston won its fifth consecutive game with a 129-120 victory at Minnesota. Coming off Saturday's 107-101 win in New Orleans, it was an impressive showing on both ends of a road back-to-back for the Rockets (56-14) — each against probable Western Conference playoff teams. With the two wins by Houston and losses by Golden State (53-17) on Friday and Toronto (52-18) on Sunday, the Rockets now effectively have a four-game advantage (counting tiebreakers) on both teams in the race for home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs with only 12 games left to play. Harden, long considered the league's MVP frontrunner, also led the way in scoring (32/11/8) in New Orleans. Clint Capela (13/11, 3 blocks) posted another double-double on the interior against Anthony Davis, while Paul (21/8/5) and Trevor Ariza (17 points, 4-of-6 on 3 by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

39 min listen

14 straight: Harden gets revenge as Capela, Gordon return to form: Clint Capela and Eric Gordon each returned from illness-related absences with 22 points, and James Harden finished with 25 points, seven assists, and one filthy crossover on Wesley Johnson as the Rockets (48-13) extended their winning streak to 14 with a 105-92 triumph at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Thursday's recap episode explores those storylines and more, including a recent shooting slump by Chris Paul (4-of-21, or 19%, from three-point line since the All-Star break) and why the 39-12 blitz Houston put on the Clippers to start the game was a critical reminder of the "extra gear" possessed by the Rockets. #Rockets #NBA #Clippers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

38 min listen

Refreshed CP3 holds off Blazers + Kyrie Irving injury fallout: Chris Paul (27 points, 11-of-19 FG) lifted Houston to a 22-point halftime lead over Portland and ultimately saved them with a tie-breaking shot with just 0.8 seconds left as the Rockets (64-15) escaped with a 96-94 home win over the Blazers (48-31). James Harden (24/7/6) was again hot from the perimeter (3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc), but his eight turnovers and two missed free throws late played a role in nearly allowing Portland to overcome the deficit. A much-improved performance from Clint Capela (11/10, +12 in 32 minutes) on the interior against Jusuf Nurkic also played a key role in Houston's early dominance. Ryan Anderson remained out due to a sprained ankle suffered in Tuesday's win over Washington, while Eric Gordon sat out as a precaution with a minor twinge to his foot. As expected, Portland star Damian Lillard was also out with a sprained ankle. Thursday's show explores those angles and more, including th by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

37 min listen

Harden leads spectacular shooting display in Game 1 rout: James Harden had 41 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists as the red-hot Rockets (17-of-32 from three-point range) raced ahead of the Jazz in Game 1 of their second-round series and never looked back in a 110-96 win. Our postgame show breaks it all down, including the importance of Houston showing its so-called "A game" after a dynamic performance from Golden State the day before; continued postseason excellence from Clint Capela (16/12) against another elite big in Rudy Gobert; strong defense amid the return of Luc Mbah a Moute;and why a sluggish game from Eric Gordon (7 points, 0-of-6 FG) suggests the Rockets could offset a probable regression from three-point range. Tune in! #Rockets #NBA #Jazz #NBAPlayoffs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

36 min listen

Houston > Dallas, and Dave Hardisty on the two newest Rockets: The Rockets (42-13) won their eighth consecutive game and 12th of 13 since the return of James Harden with a 104-97 victory over the rival Dallas Mavericks (18-39) on Sunday night at Toyota Center. It didn't always come easy for Houston, though, as evidenced by the 36 points scored by the Mavericks in the second quarter. That led to a tight game (57-55) at the half, even against a Dallas squad with Dirk Nowitzki, Wes Matthews, and J.J. Barea all out due to injury or rest considerations. Our recap explores the inconsistent defense and reasons not to overreact, along with a look at how the Rockets were able to eventually turn it around. James Harden led the way in scoring with 27 points, while Chris Paul shook off a slow start to finish with 25 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, and a team-best plus/minus of +22 — highlighted by an 11-4 spurt to end the third quarter in which Paul scored or assisted on every point. That stretch by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

33 min listen

Locked on Rockets — March 1 — Houston shows extraordinary ceiling, improved effort in beatdown vs. Clips: The Rockets (43-19) responded to the adversity of Monday's loss with perhaps their best showing of the entire season, routing the Clippers 122-103 in Los Angeles. James Harden (7-of-15 FG, 26 points) was more efficient, while Pat Beverley's heart (12 r... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

21 min listen

Recapping an unlikely win in Miami and previewing the trade deadline: James Harden and Chris Paul combined for 65 points on over 50% shooting in Miami as the undermanned Rockets (40-13) finished off a perfect four-game road trip with an improbable 109-101 victory over the Heat (29-26). The Rockets, off to their best start in franchise history, have now caught the Warriors (41-13) in the loss column for the NBA's best record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Houston holds the tiebreaker after winning two of three in the regular-season series. Our postgame show examines those leading angles and much more, including an injury update as Ryan Anderson (ankle) and Eric Gordon (back) each sat out with minor issues. With Houston not arriving to its Miami hotel until 3:45 a.m. local time, Mike D'Antoni opted not to push any of his regulars with nagging injuries on a back-to-back scenario and on reduced sleep. On the second half of the show (25:40), we preview tomorrow's trade d by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

56 min listen

Locked on Rockets — Jan. 2 — Houston overcomes injuries, fatigue, 15-point deficit to top Wizards: Playing their third game in four nights and missing two starters, the Rockets (27-9) were down 15 points midway through Monday's game vs. Washington and had every opportunity to chalk it up as a "schedule loss." Instead, James Harden rallied the troops... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

19 min listen

Locked on Rockets — Jan. 17 — Slump continues as Heat shock Houston into third loss in four games: Despite another triple-double from James Harden (40 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists), the Miami Heat beat the Rockets on Tuesday night, 109-103, sending Houston to its third loss in four games. We examine the factors leading to Houston's first patch of... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

18 min listen

Locked on Rockets — Jan. 5 — Beverley guts it out, Harden bolsters MVP case in thriller vs. Thunder: Russell Westbrook (49 points) won the scoring battle, but MVP leader James Harden (26 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds) won the war with an incredible last-second pass to set up Nene for the win. With the Rockets moving to 28-9, Ben credits Harden's unse... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

20 min listen

Losing streak reaches five in blowout loss to Wizards: The losing streak for the Rockets (25-9) is now at five following Friday night's 121-103 loss in Washington. James Harden led the way with 20 points (7-of-14 FG) but had five turnovers compared to just four assists, while newcomer Gerald Green scored 18 points (6-of-10 FG) in 27 minutes off the bench. In our postgame show, I take a higher-level overview of the streak — including slumping performances from role players like Ryan Anderson and P.J. Tucker, sudden struggles in late-game execution, the impact in the Western Conference standings, and reasons not to panic as the team returns home for a New Year's Eve date with the Lakers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

55 min listen

Locked on Rockets — May 8 — Harden, Gordon pick up pace as Game 4 rout ties series: The Rockets tied their second-round series in Sunday night's Game 4 with a huge 125-104 win over the Spurs in Houston. We reflect on all the major storylines, including James Harden's MVP efficiency (28 points, 10-of-18 FG, 12 assists), another ironman... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

27 min listen

Houston grabs NBA's best record after defeating Kings: The Rockets (44-13) defeated the Kings on Wednesday night to run their winning streak to 10 games and later moved into the West's pole position following a subsequent loss by Golden State (44-14) in Portland. If the regular season ended today, Houston would have home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs. Thursday's show breaks down the importance of Houston grabbing the No. 1 seed entering the extended All-Star break, with emphasis on how it bolsters the cases for James Harden as the league's MVP frontrunner and the increased desirability of the Rockets as an offseason destination for the likes of LeBron James. Other topics include a specific breakdown of the 100-91 victory over Sacramento (15:55) and how Harden (28/9/9) led the fatigued Rockets to a win without their best stuff, as well as thoughts on the relatively positive debut for Joe Johnson (9 points, 3 rebounds, 31 minutes) at Toyota Center. #Rockets #NBA #Kings #War by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

40 min listen

Harden's historic brilliance overcomes wave of injuries: James Harden led the Rockets (36-13) with a franchise-record setting 60 points (19-of-30 FG) as Houston won for the sixth time in seven games since his return with a 114-107 home victory on Tuesday night vs. Orlando. Harden also had 11 assists, 10 rebounds, and four steals, making him the first player in NBA history to record a 60-point triple-double. As it turned out, Houston needed all of Harden's exploits to survive a sudden wave of injuries to key rotation cogs. Trevor Ariza (strained left hamstring) missed the first game of his expected multi-game absence, while Chris Paul (right groin soreness) sat out with what the Rockets believe is a brief precautionary measure. Eric Gordon exited early after just 10 minutes with lower back stiffness. Between those three players, the Rockets missed a combined 51 points per game in scoring production, along with double-figure averages in rebounds and assists. Our postgame show includes an by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

34 min listen

Paul bounces back, Green blasts off as Rockets defend home court: The Rockets overcame an early 9-point deficit with an incredible 52-20 run spanning just 16 game minutes in Wednesday's Game 2 at Toyota Center, leading to a 102-82 victory and a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven playoff series between Houston and Minnesota. Game 3 is Saturday night in Minneapolis. Chris Paul bounced back from a poor showing in Game 1 with a team-high 27 points (10-of-18 FG) and 8 assists, while Gerald Green brought infectious energy off Houston's bench with 21 points and 12 rebounds — finishing with a team-best plus/minus of +27 in his 27 minutes. That included 12 points on four made three-pointers in the second quarter, when the Rockets turned a 7-point deficit into a 15-point halftime lead. Clint Capela (8 points, 16 rebounds) again led a tremendous defensive effort by the Rockets, particularly on the interior against Karl-Anthony Towns (5 points, 2-of-9 shooting). James Harden (12 points, 7 assists by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

28 min listen

Harden bounces back, Green secures playoff role in rout of Wizards: James Harden returned to MVP form with 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists on 12-of-18 shooting as the Rockets (63-15) bounced back from a rare loss on Sunday with a 120-104 beatdown of the Washington Wizards (42-36) on Tuesday night at Toyota Center. Chris Paul returned to the lineup after a two-game absence with 8 points and 6 assists, while Clint Capela was dynamic inside with 21 points (9-of-10 FG) and 10 rebounds in just 26 minutes. Meanwhile, Gerald Green may have secured a playoff role with 16 points (5-of-9 FG) in just 23 minutes off the bench. Tuesday's postgame recap explores those themes and more, including the importance of Harden's improved shooting after a cold stretch and what an ankle injury to Ryan Anderson could mean for the team's depth chart behind Capela at center. #Rockets #NBA #Wizards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

23 min listen

Craig Ackerman on Game 1 takeaways and Game 2 adjustments: Play-by-play broadcaster Craig Ackerman joined us Monday for a full recap of Houston's Game 1 victory, along with a look at possible adjustments both the Rockets and Timberwolves might make for Wednesday's Game 2. MVP frontrunner James Harden (44/8) was incredible in Sunday's opener, and Clint Capela (24/12) owned the interior against Minnesota's Karl Anthony-Towns (8 points, 3-of-9 FG). But despite the dominance from Harden and Capela, the Rockets had to narrowly escape with a 104-101 win amid poor shooting from role players (outside of Harden, Houston was just 3-of-25 from three-point range) and an uncharacteristically inefficient showing from Chris Paul (5-of-14 FG, 6 turnovers, 4 assists). Is the glass half-full or half-empty after a seemingly rusty performance in Game 1, and is it reasonable to expect a bounce-back in Game 2? Ackerman offers insight on those themes and much more in Monday's show. Tune in! #Rockets #Timberw by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

34 min listen

Locked on Rockets — Nov. 10 — Harden's triple-double, late stops spur upset in San Antonio: The Spurs had four days of rest and the Rockets (5-3) were on the fifth game of a five-game road trip, but James Harden (24 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds) was still able to lead underdog Houston to a big win in San Antonio. We break down how it happe... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

14 min listen

Locked on Rockets — Nov. 28 — Hot shooting, Harden's 38, Capela's career night lead Houston past Portland: The Rockets (11-6) are off to a 2-0 start on this West Coast road trip after an impressive 130-114 win in Portland on Sunday. We recap the positives from the victory, including a spectacular night from Eric Gordon (26 points, six threes) and sustained ... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

16 min listen

Locked on Rockets — March 7 — Officiating blunders, subpar supporting cast overshadow Harden's big night: The Rockets (44-20) lost a tough one in San Antonio on Monday night, falling 112-110 to the Spurs despite grabbing an early 16-point lead. We examine both the pros and the cons, including James Harden's incredible efficiency (39 points, 12 assists, 13-... by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

21 min listen

Streak ends: Harden's heroics can't rescue Rockets from early hole: In a possible NBA Finals preview, the Rockets' valiant comeback effort fell just short Friday night in a 108-105 loss in Toronto. MVP frontrunner James Harden scored 40 points on a ridiculous 15-of-22 shooting, but Kyle Lowry nearly matched him with 30 points on 10-of-14 FG and 7-of-9 from behind the arc. The loss snapped Houston's NBA-best winning streak at 17 games, as the Rockets fell to 51-14 on the season. Our postgame show breaks down the Harden-Lowry battle and all of the other the key storylines, including strength by Clint Capela (13/13) against Jonas Valanciunas, an underwhelming night from Chris Paul (13 points, 5-of-13 FG), and the sluggish early defense that allowed Toronto to race out to a 19-point lead. The third and final segment of the show explores the convergent paths of Houston and Toronto, including why many of the reasons the 2017-18 Rockets deserve the benefit of the doubt for prior playoff short by Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On The Houston Rockets

38 min listen

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Gritty comeback vs. Lakers snaps skid, but Harden exits early

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